Tuscany Per Donna

I was curious and skeptical about Tuscany per Donna because of the Samsara comparisons: Samsara is one of my all-time, top-tier, ride-or-die fragrances, and I have never smelled anything else that reminded me of it even a little bit, aside from the vague memory of a shampoo I liked as a child in the 1970s and, ever so slightly, the scent of Kerastase Huile Ultime. Well, I get it now. Tuscany per Donna and Samsara are not twins, not even sisters, really, but maybe they're close first cousins or something because the balsamic base, that deep herbaceous ambery base that makes Samsara's drydown so addictive to me, I'm definitely getting that--it's not as intense as the base of Samsara, but damned if it doesn't remind me of it. This is so great that I'm guessing I should probably hunt down a vintage bottle because it's probably even better, if it contains real sandalwood, for instance. Either that or Frederic Malle will get his mitts on it, and they won't make it available below the $280 price point. I told myself I wouldn't buy anything else for the rest of 2024, but Tuscany per Donna is sorely tempting me, even though this 1.7 ounce bottle in the infuriatingly terrible bottle will probably last me the rest of my life, since it's never going to replace Samsara in my heart. I'm still glad to have it, though, and I love the somewhat different floral and herbal notes that give it a bit of its Italian countryside vibe. Update: Wearing it today, I love it even more than I did before. The drydown is very Samsara-like, which is to me the ultimate compliment. I think this is a true undersung gem of the Lauder house, and I hope it remains exactly as is, in a 50-ml bottle that costs about $65 and not in an admittedly superior-because-functional bottle that costs $280. I like Tuscany Per Donna in its current formulation, which is no doubt inferior to the original formulation, which probably had real Mysore sandalwood. In fact, I like it more than I like any one of the Frédéric Malle re-releases for Legacy. Call me a prude and a dumb American prole, but I don't want to smell like I'm sweating off last night's tacos; I want to smell like a fancy floral soap in an antique drawer. Tuscany Per Donna probably ought to make me feel like I'm running around in a field consorting with a virile Italian amid the wildflowers, but who has time for that? I'll find serenity by nestling fragrantly among my lingerie, gently tucked away in the sandalwood drawer of my dreams. Update: I have been wearing it for the past couple of days, and I'm starting to see why the Samsara comparisons are so prevalent--it's not just the obviously similar sandalwood or synthetic simulacrum and the rich, almost cola-like balsam base; it's that slightly indolic jasmine, too, and maybe some shared "herbal notes." (Some green note or another also reminds me of the clover accord in Coco EDP). Anyway, this is an undersung gem, and I wish they would put it in better bottles with functional, properly fitted caps, but in the meantime I'm just going to sit back and hope they don't discontinue this or let Frédéric Malle get his cumin-scented mitts on this pretty lady, which is essentially the same as discontinuing it, as far as I am concerned, a person who is philosophically opposed to paying $280 for a bottle of scented water that costs literal pennies to produce.

I never smelled the original but I really love this reformulation. I need this in my life and will be getting a full bottle. Indolic jasmine, spicy carnation and I get so much carnation w/ this perfume. Sandalwood and vanilla dry down that lets the carnation and jasmine linger and soften. Like the flowers have been kissed w/ sandalwood and vanilla. So pretty, has a vintage style to it. Smells very sweet as well. Like the thought of fruits, of fruits yet to be tasted. It's not a fruity perfume, I can't explain it. Tuscany per Donna smells so fancy yet so relaxed at the same time. It is very sensual. My husband said it was unique and special. That sealed the deal, I will be adding this to my collection this weekend when Macy's runs their perfume sale. Love this. Edit: 12/26/22 I just sampled Chanel's Allure EDP and Coco Chanel and I find Tuscany per Donna is a good alternative to both of those perfumes. It has the peach/citrus and similar floral combinations, and it has the herbal notes like Coco (Coco has clover Tuscany has herbal notes) But what I like about Tuscany over the Chanels is it isn't aloof. Chanel fragrances, even the ones I like have an aloof quality that is hard for me to get passed. Plus, Tuscany costs quite a bit less. A 1.7 is $63 regular and you can get deals. I got mine for $56. Chanel Allure is like $115-120 for 1.7. Plus, I happen to like Tuscany better. Compare them blind some time. I did (my husband prepared the test for me, so I didn't know which was which and Tuscany won in a 3-way contest between Tuscany, Coco, and Allure edp. Now this is just my nose, everyone is different, but I bet I'm not the only one who would have the same result. Also I had a chance to sample the vintage Tuscany per Donna and this reformulation is the best of all the reformulations of this classic line IMO. And I have tried almost all of them.

Outstanding perfume! Tuscany per Donna (the new formulation) is an Oriental Woody fragrance with a citrus-herbal lightness that makes it a perfect daytime fragrance with just the right zing to make it better than the average office perfume. The floral top and middle notes (rose, lily-of-the-valley, jasmine, honeysuckle, peony, and carnation) carry the fragrance, but married to the sandalwood, it becomes an exotic elixir that captivates the senses. Truly stunning. For lovers of Samsara, Sira des Indes by Jean Patou, and Dune by Christian Dior.

rene, you sold it to me. i m also a samsara whorre. having a small 7.5ml original and the new 2021 legendaries, i can say i love them both and im always hunting for copies, dupes, similars. i even set aside a fund for another bigger, original vintage samsara, which i can dip my hands into, for this beauty you so poetically described. also major LOL for the frederic malle and his cumin hands🤣 edit: discontinued. of fuckingcourse

This smells a bit like Venezia